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Press Release

AFT Statement On President Obama’s State of the Union Address

For Release:

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Contact:

John See

202/879-4458

jsee@aft.org

WASHINGTON—We agree with the president’s call for long-term investments in our children and schools. These investments are essential to strengthen our nation, maintain a healthy democracy and help future generations succeed.

The goal is to make sure every student has an opportunity to achieve great things, just like the terrific West Philadelphia students who sat with the first lady during the State of the Union address.

While making these critical investments in our future, we also have to protect those who are less fortunate and support those who are struggling mightily to lead a middle-class life, stay healthy, send their children to college and retire with dignity.

As a nation, we do better when we put aside our differences and find common ground, and it doesn’t cost a nickel to work together. We applaud the president’s call for more civility and collaboration, which we believe is the best hope for achieving better lives for students and all Americans.

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The AFT represents 1.7 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.

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The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.